Ryanodine receptor 2 (RYR2) is a protein found primarily in cardiac muscle. In humans, it is encoded by the RYR2 gene. In the process of cardiac calcium-induced calcium release, RYR2 is the major mediator for sarcoplasmic release of stored calcium ions.
The channel is composed of RYR2 homotetramers and FK506-binding proteins found in a 1:4 stoichiometric ratio. Calcium channel function is affected by the specific type of FK506 isomer interacting with the RYR2 protein, due to binding differences and other factors.
The RYR2 protein functions as the major component of a calcium channel located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum that supplies ions to the cardiac muscle during systole. To enable cardiac muscle contraction, calcium influx through voltage-gated L-type calcium channels in the plasma membrane allows calcium ions to bind to RYR2 located on the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This binding causes the release of calcium through RYR2 from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol, where it binds to the C domain of troponin, which shifts tropomyosin and allows the myosin ATPase to bind to actin, enabling cardiac muscle contraction. RYR2 channels are associated with many cellular functions, including mitochondrial metabolism, gene expression and cell survival, in addition to their role in cardiomyocyte contraction.